Umm. Has anybody here ever seen hail during a snowstorm? Because I swear to Og we just got hailed on for a few minutes. Freaky.
Good vibes to Soapy’s friend.
FarmBabe, mind if I pass links of your videos around to some friends?
Mahna, it wasn’t “my” fire, it belonged to the student whose bench was just behind mine. Mind you, in the same year we had another student put out a fire with his bare hands. We were all working away when he called out in a sort of strangled voice “euh… Al?” (Al being the TA who was closest)
“yeah?”
“uh, mind coming? I think I sort’a have a fire. And bring an extinguisher, willya.”
“How in bloody blue blazes does one ‘sort’a have a fire’?,” said Al, as he grabbed the extinguisher. You could see the news travel in circular waves from the student: activity would stop, students stared and TAs headed for the closest piece of fire-extinguishing equipment.
One of the student’s neighbors closed his Bunsen burner, over which the student had placed a tripod, then a heating base, and over this base he was holding a kitasatos, by its two mouths. A kitasatos is a conical flask with a small side pipe, the student had one hand closed firmly on the mouth and another on the pipe.
“OK, so where’s the fire?”
“In the kitasatos. Maybe. I mean, it was on top and then I slapped it and it moved to the side and then I slapped that and that’s when I called you…”
“O… K… so. Is it hot?”
“No, not that I can tell.”
“OK. Nearby Bunsens are all off, good… OK, put it in the sand bath and take your hands off.”
The student complied and, since the flask didn’t catch fire again, no fire equipment was required. But we were told that really, using your hands to slap a fire down is not, generally, a good idea. Promise, it’s not.
We only had six fires and one “other” incident (can’t rightfully call it an accident, as it was caused by direct moronity) in that year’s lab, but they were all quite spectacular.
Blurf. Blurf to the nth degree. So tired. So much work to do. World feels like it’s coming down around my ears. Did you ever have one of those days where absolutely NOTHING went right? Well this is one of those. Nothing huge or specific has gone wrong, it’s just a million and one little individual screwups, inconveniences, panics, nuisances, frustrations, iritations, etc, all coming together in a spectacular cavalcade of suck. Huzzah for screaming, hair-pulling stress!
Read this article. It’s fascinating, and (if you’re me and most of the points mentioned apply to you) kind of depressing. Definitely worth a perusal, although it probably applies more to my generation than to you old fogies. :rolleyes:
Alex Roommate and I have decided that when we take over the world (it’s a work in progress), we will have our own personal Goon Squad. They will cruise around in a minivan that looks sort of like the Mystery Machine except painted black with flames on the side, committing random acts of gooning. Not thuggery, that’s too low-class - gooning would be more along the lines of walking up to a yuppie sipping his $9 latte at an outdoor Starbucks table while trading stocks on his MacBook, and shutting his computer off. Also, the Goon Squad will look like this.
Yeah… We make our own fun.
Mahna - That sucks. Still, at least it made the commute memorable, and on top of that you know the low point of your day has already passed! 
{{{Ivory and Friend and Whoever Else Needs}}}
**Farmer **- if it were possible for someone with my voice to produce a proper squee, I would. Baby animals are so CUTE!
Rebo - This meeting of the National Procrastination Society has been postponed indefinitely, eh?
Swampy - You’re a dirty, dirty woman. I like it. Will send pics; not sure when, Saturday’s plans with Kitty to finish my Bedazzling are in serious danger of falling through due to extenuating circumstances. May just send one pic of what I look like now and another when everything’s finished. Either way, I’m flattered. 
Class over, and thus post over.
Good thoughts headed out to Soapy’s friend.
My manager’s MIL died last night. It was expected (She was in hospice care.), but still sad. At least she was mentally alert and sharp up to the last week or so.
Melatonin’s good. I took one last night. I don’t get the hung over feeling from it. You can find it in the supplement section (i.e. with the vitamins) at the pharmacy or grocery store, moonie.
You remind me of one of my college friends (actually an ex-bf), moonie. He’s also bi and furry and geeky, but computer-science geeky instead of engineering geeky. Have you gone to whatever the furry convention is in Pittsburgh in the summer? He went last year and had a blast.
Loved the goat and piggies and turkeys, Farmer! Can I come visit? I wanna pet the goat.
I think I really need a 1/2 day off work. I’m getting that almost-burned-out feeling. And my still-sore shoulder’s not helping. I need to get away for just a little while. Now I just have to find a 1/2 day when I don’t have meetings or deadlines. This morning would have been a good option if I’d thought of it ahead of time. :smack:
I am definitely NOT going to Anthrocon this summer. Nope, no way. That would make me a loser. I most certainly WON’T be attending the entire convention with three or four friends from UMBC’s on-campus furry clique. Nope, not happening. And what’smore, I can absolutely say that one of the girls in our little group is NOT going to help me make paws and ears to go with my tail. Nuh-uh. Never.
Cuz, y’know, that would be wierd… giggles
Unrelated: I have three exams next week, in the last two days before Spring Break. sigh At lest that means I’ll have bupkiss to do over my week off. I should make plans but I seriously don’t have any ideas for stuff to do besides sit on my tail in my Foof Chair and watch TV. Man, I’m boring.
I think the article makes some good points, although I also think my generation might have just missed having our lives taken over by the internet (I’m 26). The internet didn’t really take off until I was in my later years in high school. I totally agreed about the misunderstandings that happen via texts. I’ve had that happen a lot, even with people I’ve known forever.
The man-from-Belfast-I-am-currently-dating wants me to make beef stew again tomorrow for our guests. I’m wondering if I should stick to what I did yesterday or try doing the full recipe properly (I abbreviated it because I didn’t have all the ingredients). I also am a bit iffy about the beef stew per se, because the girl I’m inviting over (her and her boyfriend) was the girl I mentioned upthread - the one that screwed up her beef stew. Actually what it was, was that she was experimenting with beef stew all week - the week before her boyfriend came back after being away for three months. I don’t know if she ever succeeded, but she knows I know about her experiments (I was actually living with her at the time) so I’m wondering if she’ll take my beef stew the wrong way, if you know what I mean.
Maybe I should just make pasta. :smack:
So my manager just dropped by my cube and handed me a small 1oz bottle of rum.
Technically it’s just a little souvenir he brought back from his trip to Trinidad for those of us who were stuck here in the Frozen Northlands… but still, given the way things have been lately, there’s something incredibly hilarious about the fact that management is distributing little bottles of hard liquor during work hours.
I’ve placed the bottle on my desk with a note that says “Open In Case of Emergency”.
Sorry to hear about your manager’s MIL, taxi. And I totally hear you on the half-day off… I’m contemplating playing hookie next week sometime for the same reason.
Moonie, those are some uhhh… slick… suits. Yeah. That’s the word I was looking for. 
Sounds like fun, though. Please sign me up for the Goon Squad, but only if I get to wear this.
Haze, you are absolutely correct, pasta is probably less likely to offend given the circumstances. Miss Manners would approve.
I think that’s why I’m one of the only (or maybe THE only) IRL friend who knows that this guy goes to Anthrocon. And I don’t go blabbing to mutual friends… I only tell strangers on teh interwebs. 
I’m 29 and I approve of that article. All the reasons given in it are why I do not text unless it’s an absolute oh god there’s no other way to reach you emergency.
I’m so freaking stuck on my third chapter right now. I can’t decide whether to finish up the section I’m on or go back and write the introduction. And then I just got back my first two chapters from my thesis director and he wants me to make a semi-drastic change (get rid of section headings, replace with transitions) and now I’m all stabby. Complicated Roommate told me if I’m getting this frustrated with it that means I’m almost done. He can stuff it.
Ooooooh, love the dress, Muppet!
So going to Anthrocon counts as “something you don’t want people to know about,” uh? Well, at least someone not going to Anthrocon with three or four friends has more friends than the average bear as per that article…
Mahna - I don’t wear a full suit, and probably never would. They’re expensive, high-maintenance, heavy, uncomfortably warm (especially in crowded convention halls), and on top of all that I think te huge cartoon heads are creepy as hell thanks to the unmoving, expressionless faces and bizarre cartooney look. And on top of that, it’d be hard as hell to keep hidden, since Mom and Dad are (and shall remain) blissfully ignorant of the fact that I’m a fur because Mom saw that one CSI episode and thinks we’re all twisted sexual deviants.
I’ll stick to paw gloves and paw slippers, a tail, and a cute lil hat with ears on it! :3
Taxi - Yeah, a lot of furs are sensitive about it. I’m not; I’m actually quite open, irl and online. I’m old enough to not care what people think of me and young enough to get away with being an idiot, and on top of that, I’ve always been wierd. I don’t care who knows what I am… With the exception of mom and dad, hehe.
Hey, Mumpers. For reasons not related any Doper, I’m choosing to stop participating on this message board entirely.
Thank you all for you humour, your wisdom, and your good grace.
::gives all the fur-kiddies one last skritch and waves ‘Bye!’::
Awwww… criminey, you’ll be missed. 
Hope to run into you in one of those other boards.
Moonie, I was referring to the swank suits you picked out for your Goon Squad. While I don’t know many furries, the few I do have the pleasure of knowing are unanimous in their disapproval of the full suits (and their disdain for that CSI episode).
Spaz, take some deeeeep breaths, put away the sharp objects and go find yourself a nice advice columnist you can eviscerate in a metaphorical sense. You’ll feel much better. 
Oh, criminy, I’m sorry! We’ll miss you!
Alastair, heads up, swampbear’s a guy. 
Soapy, prayers headed out for your friend.
Had a lovely lunch out with Nat and a friend, now am trying to persuade him to nap. Not going so well, again. Missed his sleepy time by fifteen minutes. Fingers crossed.
We’re doing pasta sauce and a crockpot full of veggie chili right now. Smells good.
I feel bad cuz I’ve been so quiet lately. Part of it is visiting the other board first, but I’ve just been busy, tired, and anti-social lately.
I tried making a pajama-like costume once. It didn’t work real well since I don’t sew, and I waited too long and didn’t have time to paint on stripes before the Halloween party. I swear at some point I’m going to paint the stripes on the tail and hood. Honest.
I think my mom ignores my being a furry. At least I’ve convinced her (I think) that it’s not sexual. :rolleyes: Well, gee mom, I used to roll around on the carpet pretending to be a kitty. Y’think maybe I’ve just always been this way?
Sorry, I’m a bit cranky lately.
I haven’t actually seen any fursuits IRL, but pictures of them are impressive. I’d never wear one; it’s just too much of a hassle (heck, at RenFaire I usually end up getting out of a bunch of my garb cuz I don’t want to carry it around)
crim, so long. Not goodbye.
taxi, I’m right there with ya in that burned-out feeling.
Good vibes out to soapy friend.
Good for you, moonie, life is too short to live it concerned with what others think.
muppet, that dress is AWESOME!
Back to busy, overworked, not fun, work. Bleck!
Tupug
I did a bit of work on it this morning at Reference Work and then read a bit of Chapterhouse Dune at the teashop. I’m taking the weekend off from working on it–maybe Friday too depending on how badly I want to go to Messrs. Barnes et Nobél to read The Killing Joke.
Hoshit, Watchmen opens this weekend, doesn’t it? MUST. GO. SEE. (Yeah, I’m a bit of an Alan Moore fan.)
Bye crim. I’ll miss you :(.
Here’s the rainbow scarf. I’m making this shawl with this yarn.
I’ve been talking with an elementary school friend on Facebook and last night she wrote that I had been her only friend in school. That makes me so sad. She, along with about half of the girls I went to school with, was molested by someone she was living with. I hate people sometimes.
Speaking of hating people, want to hear what new job postings I’ve found? No? Well, I’m going to tell you anyway. [ul]
[li]Must be bilingual in a non-European language[/li][li]Must be bilingual in any European language, except French, German or Spanish[/li][li]Must be fluent in more than 2 languages[/li][li]Must have at least 10 years experience in extremely specific industry[/li][li]Must have Masters degree (This was for a **receptionist **position. I suppose they have someone in particular in mind.)[/li][li]Must have held a specific title, actual experience is irrelevant[/li][li]All of the above[/li][li]Pays $10/hour[/li][/ul]
And then there’s the position open at yet another Big 4 firm. I thought about it, but I have yet to hear a former employee speak well of them.
Just spent the last two hours and change working through Dynamics homework with the TA during his office hours. Progress was made, I think I got 9 of the 12 problems either finished or down to the point where I just gotta plug numbers into my calculator to get a numeric answer. Yay! Day seems slightly less bleak now.
Currently sitting in the commons eating a cheeseburger cuz I know later tonight when its dark and cold and I’m busy with (more of my unending supply of) homework, I am NOT going to be able to muster up the enthusiasm to hike to the dining hall for sustenance, and I really do need to eat at least once a day regardless of what the pills may think. Random moment of glee: The fountain soda machine had the right balance of syrup and fizzy water in the Sprite nozzle for once. Usually it’s flat or too sweet but today it’s perfect.
Hopefully I can K.O. the remainder of my Dynamics, Calc, and maybe Thermo HW before this day is over; if so, tomorrow is Physics HW and classes all day, then the weekend to get caught up on Physics lecture notes and AMST reading. Then next week… Ah, screw it, thinking about all the work I have to do in a timeframe in excess of three days is too depressing.
Crimeny - That was sudden and, afaik, unexpected. I won’t question your reasoning, but I will wish you the best on all your endeavours. Au revoir!
Mahna - chortles Heh, yeah, that about sums it up. And yeah, the Goon Squad suits are awesome on a level that we mere mortals may never fully understand. I want one - I would totally wear it.
In public.
I’m going to fashion hell for that. :rolleyes:
Lissla - I thought so. I honestly couldn’t remember, but I didn’t want to admit it (the original text I had typed was “you’re a dirty girl. Or guy. I forget.”), so I took a wild guess. Heh, not that I care anyway… strikes coy pose
STG - I taught myself to sew so I could make stuff to wear. It’s fun, and a great way to relax. I don’t use a machine, though, I do it all by hand. I made ears, a tail, and paw gloves for Halloween (huzzah for excuses!), from creating patterns up through cutting and sewing, and they turned out great; my only beef with them is that the paw gloves are too bulky. I have very long, thin, feminine hands, so I want to make a pair of sleeker gloves that fit better - skintight or close to it if I can, so they look more natural. Yes, I’m an obsessive perfectionist.
As for parents… Meh, I don’t feel like trying to overturn their existing preconceptions, especially since they already think I’m strange and worry themselves over the fact thatI’m not “just like everybody else”.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but most engineers I’ve worked with are very appreciative of an elegant design, even if it’s someone else’s. Of course, give any 10 engineers the same design problem, and you could get 10 equally good solutions. But in my experience, engineers who are confident in their abilities have no problem seeing a good design produced by another.
Speaking of design, I got an idea for my “Environmental Commentary” ceramics project. I’d make a piggy bank with a hand putting a whale in the slot.
You know - Save the Whales…
I’m exhausted. I had a horrid night - kept waking up coughing every hour or so. Tonight is a melatonin-and-crash-early night. That’s all I’ve got for now. Maybe more later. Maybe not. Sorry.